A Time of Love and Tartan: A 44 Scotland Street Novel

The residents of 44 Scotland Street, Edinburg are beginning to reflect on their lives to date and consider the future and how changes, if required, may relate as far as home, life, love and what next.

Introspection is not something they are normally given too, as mostly they seem to accept the idiosyncrasy of their fellow man with aplomb, but there are certain times in anyone’s life where some serious reflection is required.

Through the all-seeing lens of Alexander McCall Smith we once again enjoy meeting with our old friends as they take on the daily challenge of life.

Pat McGregor has agreed to meet up with Bruce, something she has not done for a very, very long time. In making this decision, she, now sitting waiting in the coffee shop for Bruce to appear, seriously begins to doubt her sanity, almost leaving but still having an overwhelming desire to see him once again.

Matthew, meanwhile is running into some trouble of his own, by picking up a copy of 50 Shades of Grey, at his local bookshop, out of curiosity and then, in shame tries to hide from his former English teacher, which of course, leads onto a situation far more complex and complicated than ever imagined.

Stuart is talked into applying a for a promotion at work which has some interesting and unexpected results and the Duke of Johannesburg is continuing to offer his somewhat unusual brand of wisdom as well, as attempting to foist his nephew on Mathew, Elspeth and the triplets, out at Nine Mile Burn.

Bertie and Ranald Braveheart Mcpherson are off on a series of adventure that have been well earned; finding a ‘spurtle’ buried in the grounds of Abbotsford, some weeks earlier, which may have been ‘lost by Mary Regina’, hundreds of years ago, and then, being allowed to go to into Drummond Gardens by Irene, they set about reliving the battles of ‘Rob Roy’, as only little boys can do.

Change is coming, or could possibly have arrived, with more than a thread of happiness running through the days and lives of those who live on 44 Scotland Street, which leads on to wondering what next, or have the residents finally found what they have always sought! Happiness and contentment with their lot in Edinburgh’s New Town!

As always this is wonderful, insightful, warm-hearted look at the many and varied people who make up the everyday world, as seen by the very observant student of humanity, Alexander McCall Smith.

A wonderful, feel good story which may or may not be the end of the beginning or simply, The End!